Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-10-06
REPORTING TO THE GOVERNOR.

The Superi 4tendent efthe Insane Hos.
pitai and the secretary of the Board
Comply with an Executive Request.
EA Press and Dakotaian reporter, ex-
smining the daily journal of the score
tary of the board of trustees OF the in
sane hospital for information interesting
to the public, came across the following
correspondence, which is fresh and
newsy:
THE GOVERNOR TO THE SECRETARY.
Territory OF Dakota, Executive Office,
BiemHrck, Sept l2sh 1SS7-Frank Van
Tassel, Esq. Yankton, ID. T., Dear Sir:
| an requested to make my report on
sffairs OF the territory to the secretary
of the interior by Oct. LIST.
l would be pleased to hear from you
concerning the condition of your insti-
tItioni the number OF inmates, and such
other matters as You may think of gen
eral interest.
Please answer at our earliest con-
veniepce.
Respectfully Yours.
L.. X. CHURCH.
THE SUPERINTENDENT TO THE BOARD.
Dakota Hospital Tor the Insane, Yauk.
ton, Dakota, Sept, 10Th lSS7-F. Nj. Van
rassel, esq.,, secretary of the board OF
the trustees of Dakota hospital for the
lnsane-Sn: In compliance with re-
quest OF the board OF trustees OF Dakota
hospital Tor the insane, l have the honor
to make the following report:
Dakota hospital for the insane 10 locat-
ed OH section SO, township 81, north OF
range ffty-six west, in county of Yank-
ton, 1t is "a substantial brick
structure consisting of q center building
54x70 feet, three stories, basement and
attic. Connected with 1t on the east and
west are two wards esch 32xl24, three
stories with unfinished easements.
North Of the center building and con-
nected with il by a corridor is the chapel,
underneath which Is the kitchen. North
OF this are the wash house and ironing
room 1920 each. Adjoining on the
nor.h are the engine room and GOAL shed.
A small artesian we'll affords o limited
supply of water.
The actual capacity of the hospital is
one hundred end twenty patients, but at
this date, September 10Th, We have one
hundred and sixty.
To brighten and cheer as much as pos
sibls the lives OF these afflicted ones we
constantly endeavor to make their sur
roundings as attractive as possible with
pictures in the wards, singing birds,
plants, flowers and every available thing
to interest and amuse them.
The oyer.crowded condition OF this
hospital renders ii necessary for us IN
the majority of cases in the male wards
to assign two patients to n bed IN o
room 8x10 feet, thus rendering recovery
almost impossible. In the dormitories
of the male department we are obliged
TO put from twelve to fourteen patients
IN a room designed for six.
The number OF patients on hand at
the close OF our lest biennial period
November 30th, 1SS6-vas q hundred
and forty-iour; since which date SIX
have been admitted, twenty-nine dis
CHARGED to make room for cases of more
. recent date, twenty. five refused admis-
sion for want OF room, and twelve sent
= home on trial visit and liable to return
at any time.
Respectfully Yours,
: j. F. CRL1ENs, Supt.
q SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR.
Dakota Hospital for the insane. Ysnk'
q ton, Dakota, Sep. 18th l8S7-HIs Elk
%cellenoy l.. K. Church, Governor, Bis
marok, DAKOTA. Dear Sir: In accordance
with your request dated Sep. IL L have
the honor to submit herewith q copy o
8 the report made by Superintendent j +
: Crsvens to the board OF trustees, rela
: tive to the condition OF the Dakota hos,
z pitsl for the insane neal Yankton Sept
18th 1887.
. The last legislature appropriated thu
!. sum OF n~inety-two thousand five hun
. dred dollars (S92,500) for the purpose o
enlarging the hospital, and the board o
: trustees caused plans to be prepared TO
two additional wings to the same. AM
. for warded said plans to his excellenc
the governor, on April 9th 1887 for HI
Il approval, according to the requirement
r OF the act. His exosllency the governe
d has failed to either approve or reject tn
plans aud specifications until Sept, l2tt
1887, at which late date it is not praotl
cable to undertake the completio
W OF the wings this season. Through thu
failure on the part of your exoellency
We are unable to make such O report q
would please you end the board an
;. therefore cali your attention to this
J.. norton of the superintendent's rspol
7e which contain the following items, {
le wit:
= Twenty-nine discharged to make ROOF
c, for cases of more recent date.
II Twenty-Five refused admission II
TO want of room.
" Twelve sent home on trial and lab
NJ to return OF any time.
Sixsy-six total refused and discharge
for want of room
III Capacity of hospital l2O. 49,,
n Number OF inmates September lot
of 1887, 100. IL,
- Ali of which is respectfully sui
ne mitted. By order of the board.
Respectfully Yours,
an f. L. VAN TAssEn, See'y.
hn